Felt-covered base member for electric fans and the like



Au g- 1929- A. J. PFAFF, sR 1,725,932

FELT COVERED BASE MEMBER FOR ELECTRIC FA NS AND THE LIKE Filed D60. 10,1927 Patented Aug. 27, 1929..

arse STATES 1,725,932 PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW J. PFAFF, SR., ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE EMERSON ELEC-TRIO MFG. .00., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

FELT-COVERED BASE MEMBER FOR ELECTRIC FANS AND THE LIKE.

Application. filed December 10, 1927. Serial No. 239,096.

This invention relates to felt covered base members for electric .fansand the like, and

consists in the novel construction hereinafter.

electric fans, telephone instruments and other devices .ofasimilarcharacteig to. pro;

vide a base member adapted to be attached 1a to the device, which basemember is covered with felt-or other fabric to provide a nonfrictionalcontact with a table, desk-orother support upon which it may be placed.

In the past considerable difficulty has been experienced in attachingthe covering to the parts of the base member, and 'a number ofexpedients have been employed for this purpose. It is not unusual toattach the covering by adhesive material, or by providing a ring orother connecting device that is separate from the base member to holdthe felt covering at the marginal edges. The connection by use ofadhesive material has the disadvantage of failing to provide a permanentattachment for the covering, which frequently curls at the edges orbecomes detached throughout its area from the base member. The method ofattaching by means of a separate ring or connecting device gives to thestructure a cumbersome appearance, and furthermore it is diflicult toassemble. the covering with the base member in such away as to avoid themarginal edges of the coveringfrom wrinkling and to hold the area of thecovering smoothly against the bottom face of the base member.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the construction ofbase members of this character so that the parts of the base member perse will form a clamping construction; for the marginal edges of thecovering in such a way that the covering will be tightly and evenlystretched across the bottom face of the base member, and so that themarginal edges of-the covering will turn over the edges of the basemember afl'ord ing a neat and compact appearance to the finished device,together with the further characteristic of providing a device in whichthe covering will be securely held in assembly with the base member. 7

Additional objects of the construction will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description thereof taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing in which material that may be coined or crim edover Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of the elements of the base memberassembled with portions broken away to show the relationship of theparts before the marginal edge of the outer base member is turned orcoined over to form the clamping engagement.

Fig. 2 is a plan view after the device has been completely assembled.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section 011 the line 4-4' of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment. of the invention illustrated in the drawing theconstruction is" shown as including an outer member 1, preferably in theform of a disc, which, in its original form, has an upstanding marginalrim 2. The member 1 is preferably constructed of stamped metal, althoughany at the edge may be employed. ver the outer face of the member 1 thecovering 3 is stretched, said covering 3 being of the usual felt or ofany other material having the same general characteristic, itbeing'understood that where felt is referred to it is inclusive ofmaterial serving the same purpose of providing a non-frictionalcontacting surface.

This covering 3, in its normal 'shape, is substantially circular, havinga diameter somewhat in excess of the diameter of the member 1, so thatthe marginal edges of the covering may be stretched over the flange 2and turned back against the inner face of 90 said member 1 around themargin thereof in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

The preferred method of assembling the covering with the member 1consists in placing the covering flat against the outer face of saidmember, then seating the member in a circular recess to stretch thecovering across the bottom face of said member 1 and against the outerWall of the flange 2. The margin of the member 3 is then stretched 1downwardly and 'inturned, the flexibility of the material permitting thecovering to be smoothly disposed around the inner'marginal edge of themember 1. The inner mem her 4 in the form of a disc ofmetal, fibre, 105wood or the like, and of a diameter slightly less than the diameter ofthe member 1, is

'thenpressed downwardly against the inturned marginal edge of thecovering so that the covering is tightly held in position i inwardly andfirmly pressed toward the inher marginal face of the member 1, as shownin Fi 4 of the drawing.' The covering is. there ore tightly clamped inposition and firmly held from displacementproviding a smoothcovering forthe bottom of the'base member and a smooth felt bead entirely around themarginal edge of the construction. It will be understood that themembers may be punched or bored to receive connecting devices forattaching thebase to the fan, telephone instrument, or the like.

From the foregoing it will be understood that'a device constructed asdescribed has the advantage of easy assembly, a neat finishedappearance, and a permanency of constructi'on.

W hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters'Patent is 1; A- device ofthe character described comprising a disc, a second disc, and a piece offabric covering the outer side of said second disc and having its edgefolded to enclose the edge of said second disc and extending radiallybetween said second disc and the edge of said first disc, the edge ofsaid second disc extending inwardly beyond the edge of the edge ofsaid'disc against which it lies and extended radially between said twodiscs, the edge of said disc around which said fabric is folded beingextended to clamp the fabric against opposite sides of the marginalportion of the other disc and hold all of said elements clampedtogether.

ANDREW J. PFAFF, SR.

